Freshman Spotlight: Ellis Robinson IV

Georgia will be taking on some of the best offenses in the country this year, and a true freshman could be one of the biggest surprises for the Bulldogs' defense.

Ellis Robinson IV was the crown jewel of the Bulldogs' 2024 signing class, and for good reason. The New Haven, CT native was rated the No. 1 cornerback in the nation by every major recruiting website. The 6-foot, 175-pound CB from IMG Academy was also a consensus Top 5 recruit, his lowest rating coming in at No. 4 in the nation. Robinson spent his last two years of high school with the prestigious Ascenders in Bradenton, FL after freshman and sophomore campaigns at Iona Prep in New York.

Despite Georgia becoming known as 'LBU,' head coach Kirby Smart has excelled in bringing in some of the top defensive backs in the nation, year in and year out.

Robinson is not the first No. 1 ranked cornerback to sign with Georgia, most notably Kelee Ringo was ranked tops among corners in his class back in 2020. Still, many believe Robinson could the best freshman cornerback Smart has signed. 

Circling back to this year, Robinson is not promised immediate playing time. Daylen Everette, Julian Humphrey and Daniel Harris all have experience and their own blue-chip pedigrees. Although some predict Robinson will enter the year as the fourth cornerback, he could easily enter his name into the mix for the No. 2 cornerback role. That spot is currently being battled for by Humphrey and Harris.

Robinson has a similar style to former South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn. Both players had elite ball skills and coverage ability. If those skills shine through then Robinson and fellow five-star freshman KJ Bolden could create a youth movement for the defense. The Bulldogs also have rising sophomore CJ Allen patrolling the middle of the field. 

Under Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs haven't hesitate to start the best available player even if they are a freshman. This could very well be a possibility for Robinson. The Bulldogs will need to shut down the passing game against top offenses like Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss and Tennessee. In this stretch, the Bulldogs' coaching staff could need the talented freshman.

If Robinson is not able to take over a starting role for the Bulldogs this season, he will likely see a starting role in 2025. This will help lead Georgia's youth movement as the Bulldogs look to reload over the next couple of years.